The Eastern Cape government has pumped R190-million into the construction of a 13km stretch of road that leads to former ANC president Oliver Tambo’s Nkantolo village in Mbizana.
The multi-million rand project from the R61 to Nkantolo, which is expected to create hundreds of jobs in the area, got off the ground on Tuesday when Rumdel Construction started with the first phase.
The tarring of the road is expected to be completed by May 25 2018.
The project comes after an outcry from Nkantolo community leaders, who complained that not enough was being done to develop Tambo’s birthplace.
The Nkantolo road construction is the biggest project in the area, with further tarring projects in Mbizana costing R80-million.
The scope of the work includes fencing on either side of the road for the entire 13km, 20 precast concrete bus bays and the construction of concrete sidewalks – 1.2m in width and the 13km length.
Yesterday roads and public MEC Thandiswa Marawu attended the official sod-turning event in Nkantolo.
She said the road was tarred as part of government’s plans to develop the village to a level befitting the status of the ANC’s longest-serving president.
“The construction of this road will provide all-weather accessibility to Nkantolo village and the OR Tambo Garden of Remembrance.
“Currently, the road is existing in the form of a gravel surface and the intention is to upgrade it to a tarmac surfaced standard,” she said.
“This is an important major route for the people of this municipality.”
The MEC said through the jobs that would be created during the construction of the project locals would be employed, with a number of small, medium and micro enterprises benefiting.
Residents welcomed the project.
Mbulelo Jiba, of neighbouring Ludeke village where Tambo was schooled, said the gravel road was so bad they preferred to walk than drive their cars on it.
“We have been neglected for a very long time and the Mpondo nation has been looked down on this for too long. I am sorry to put it like that but it is the truth even though we produced a president,” he said.
Mabutho villager Gusha Qayiso agreed with Jiba.
“We have been waiting for the construction of the road for far too long. But now we can see that something will be done and we are very happy about that.
“We are very thankful to government for this,” said Qayiso.
In 2014, premier Phumulo Masualle promised that more would be done to honour Tambo’s legacy by developing Nkantolo.
Last month Marawu announced that her department had set aside R1.12-billion to repair rural roads in the 2016-17 financial year.
This, she said, would be done to erase the legacy of municipalities that were racially segregated before the advent of democracy. — ndamasem@dispatch.co.za
Bhisho pumps R190m into road to Tambo village
The multi-million rand project from the R61 to Nkantolo, which is expected to create hundreds of jobs in the area, got off the ground on Tuesday when Rumdel Construction started with the first phase.
The tarring of the road is expected to be completed by May 25 2018.
The project comes after an outcry from Nkantolo community leaders, who complained that not enough was being done to develop Tambo’s birthplace.
The Nkantolo road construction is the biggest project in the area, with further tarring projects in Mbizana costing R80-million.
The scope of the work includes fencing on either side of the road for the entire 13km, 20 precast concrete bus bays and the construction of concrete sidewalks – 1.2m in width and the 13km length.
Yesterday roads and public MEC Thandiswa Marawu attended the official sod-turning event in Nkantolo.
She said the road was tarred as part of government’s plans to develop the village to a level befitting the status of the ANC’s longest-serving president.
“The construction of this road will provide all-weather accessibility to Nkantolo village and the OR Tambo Garden of Remembrance.
“Currently, the road is existing in the form of a gravel surface and the intention is to upgrade it to a tarmac surfaced standard,” she said.
“This is an important major route for the people of this municipality.”
The MEC said through the jobs that would be created during the construction of the project locals would be employed, with a number of small, medium and micro enterprises benefiting.
Residents welcomed the project.
Mbulelo Jiba, of neighbouring Ludeke village where Tambo was schooled, said the gravel road was so bad they preferred to walk than drive their cars on it.
“We have been neglected for a very long time and the Mpondo nation has been looked down on this for too long. I am sorry to put it like that but it is the truth even though we produced a president,” he said.
Mabutho villager Gusha Qayiso agreed with Jiba.
“We have been waiting for the construction of the road for far too long. But now we can see that something will be done and we are very happy about that.
“We are very thankful to government for this,” said Qayiso.
In 2014, premier Phumulo Masualle promised that more would be done to honour Tambo’s legacy by developing Nkantolo.
Last month Marawu announced that her department had set aside R1.12-billion to repair rural roads in the 2016-17 financial year.
This, she said, would be done to erase the legacy of municipalities that were racially segregated before the advent of democracy. — ndamasem@dispatch.co.za
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